Star Wars_ Rebel Force 05_ Trapped - Alex Wheeler [31]
"It's not easy," Div said. "He's watching me all the time."
"I'm sorry you have to go through this," Ferus said. "If I could bear it for you—"
Div shook his head. "It's fine. It's actually…"
"What?"
"Nothing."
But Ferus looked at him with those placid, knowing eyes, and Div couldn't help continuing. "Whoever X-7 was, he was conscripted into Project Omega against his will.
We know that. Brainwashed to forget whoever he used to be. He must have had a family, people who missed him—who think he's dead. So isn't it possible…" Div was too ashamed to say it out loud. As he put the hope into words, even he could see how ludicrous it was.
"Possible that Trever is still alive somewhere?" Ferus said sadly. "Possible, even, that our lie has stumbled upon the truth? That X-7 really is—"
"I never said that," Div cut in harshly. "I'm no fool."
"A coincidence like that—"
"Aren't you Jedi always saying there are no coincidences?" Div asked.
"I would know if it was Trever," Ferus said heavily. "I would sense it."
"But I wouldn't, right?" Div scowled. "Because I've given up on the Force, I can't even be trusted to recognize my own brother. Not like you can. Even if you barely knew him.
Only cared enough to leave him to die."
Ferus flinched. Div cursed himself for doing it again: striking Ferus exactly where it was guaranteed to hurt the most.
"Just be careful," Ferus said without resentment. "Don't let your guard down. Don't think you can trust him."
"I don't trust anyone," Div said.
Just another thing he and X-7 had in common.
Before Ferus could reply, Luke, Leia, and Han burst into the shack. "We got them!"
Luke said triumphantly, waving a memory chip in the air.
Han arched an eyebrow. " We? "
Luke rolled his eyes. "Okay. Han got the blueprints."
"And then we got Han out before the Imperials turned him into a scorch mark," Leia put in. "And by the way, you're welcome."
"And you're delusional," Han said. "If I hadn't been around to save both of your scrawny necks, you'd be dianoga food by now."
Ferus cleared his throat. At once, they fell silent. Div marveled at the way Ferus somehow commanded their respect despite that no one knew who he really was. Even Leia, who always acted like he was worthless, followed his lead. Not for the first time, Div wondered why Ferus had kept close to her all those years, pretending to be someone he wasn't. Ferus refused to speak of it.
This wasn't unusual. Ferus spoke little and often fell into long, heavy silences, staring into nothingness. He was just as kind and determined as ever, but some piece of him was gone.
"It sounds like X-7 is ready, too," Ferus said.
Luke shook his head, a fierce scowl crossing his face. "We have the blueprints; we don't need him."
"We can use him," Div countered.
"How are we supposed to use him when we can't trust him?" Luke asked.
"You have another plan?" Ferus said.
Luke and Han glanced at each other, and Han gave a small nod. "We've been working on something," Luke said, pulling up the blueprints on his datapad. "If we go in through the south entrance…" He traced his index finger along the route.
There was a hint of movement in the shadows. A rustling, as soft as a whisper. Div looked up, on alert, but saw nothing.
As the others hunched over the datapad, Ferus caught his eye. He gave Div a nearly imperceptible nod.
So Ferus had heard it, too.
Div kept his head down, but his eyes flicked from side to side as he sought out their intruder. There was no further noise or movement, but Div could feel his presence.
How long had he been there?
And how much had he heard?
Div half listened as Luke and Han laid out their plan. His mind raced furiously, searching for a way to spin this to his advantage. And by the time the planning ended and the others slipped out, he was ready.
The last to go, Ferus hesitated on his way out. "Do you need me to—"
"Go," Div said firmly. Ferus